Want a kidney transplant faster (in the US)? There is an app for that!

WESTON, Mass., Aug. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- OrganJet Corporation, the leading provider of advisory and transportation services for kidney and liver patients on transplant lists in the US, today announced the availability of a self-service web-based tool that helps patients find kidney transplant centers with low median wait times that are closest to where they live. This tool is free and is accessible from OrganJet website.

"There is significant disparity in wait times across different geographic areas, ranging from over 5 years in areas like NJ, MA, Washington D.C. and CA, while it is half that (or less) in regions like Pittsburgh, PA, Portland, OR and Madison, Wisconsin," said Sridhar Tayur, Founder and CEO of OrganJet and a professor at Carnegie Mellon University'sTepper School of Business. Every year, over 5000 patients die waiting for a kidney in some parts of the US while organs in other regions may go unused. While the actual numbers of wasted organs is a subject of debate, it is generally recognized to be in the range of 500-2500 annually.

"Our goal is to provide affordable options for patients on transplant lists in high wait time areas so that they can increase their access to organs by also listing in a transplant center that has a far lower wait time. Research has shown using data for the past 5-10 years that patients listed in well chosen multiple centers have significantly increased their chance of receiving a transplant. This free web-based tool (that also works on several mobile devices) brings that information and access to everyone," said Tayur.